Generator for hydrocarbon burners



Jan. 17, 1933. s. s. PIEPGRAS GENERATOR FOR HYDROCARBON BURNERS Filecl Sept. 16, 1929 PinUem/Z E Sianley' 5 l z iepgrws, a," m

rirbllfllII/I'I'III! Patented Jan. 17, 1931;

STANLEY s. rm'rones, or oiiIoAGo; ILLINOIS GENERATOR son HYnfiociiitBoiI assesse- Application filed September 16, less. Serial as." 392,859;

My invention relates to improvements in generators for hydrocarbon burners and more particularly to generators such as are used in mantle lamps, lanterns, camp stoves and the like Generators of the above classcommonly comprise a metal'tub'e exposed to the heat of the burner and containing a porous filling material such as asbestos, to retard the flow 0 of liquid fuel. under pressure through the tube, thereby allowing for complete gasification of the fuel before it passes through a small outlet orifice into the mixing chamber. i

The gas thus formed is subjected to the heat while in the generator and becomes cracked or decomposed into its lower organic constituents, leaving a deposit of elemental carbon in the generator tube. YThis 1 0 deposit cakes in the filling material oftlie tube, causing stoppage of the generator with the result-that a new generator must be substituted as the presence of the filling material prevents convenient cleaning.

One object of the present invention is" to prolong the service life of hydrocarbon gas generatorsxof the tubular type by providing a novel means within the generator tube 'which 'cooperates with the tube to properly 0 restrict the flow of fuel therethrough and which at the-same time may be conveniently removed to permit cleaning and then reassem-I 1 bly for further service use. M

Another ob'ect is to providea new and-fin proved generator of the above character embodyin'g mechanical means operable automatically during operation of the generator to maintain the carbon inloosened condition thereby preventing clogging of the carbon in the generator tube and prolonging the period over which-the generator may be used Without cleaning;

Another" object is to'pr'ovide such a gen-i eratorin'whichthe various parts are held in assembled relation by means which may be economically 'manufactured and easilyand quickly disassembled for purposes of repair or'cleaning;

Other ob vention will become apparent from the "fol-'2 present invention. I

ects and advantages of theain lowing detailed description taken in connec-' tion with the accompanying drawing, in which:' J i Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a mantle lamp eqii'ipped with a generator embodying the features of the Fig. 2 is a detailed view showing the gen-' erator in vertical central section. I

While the invention is susceptibleof various modifications andlalternative" 'construc tions, I have shown and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions-falling within the spirit and scope of theiinventio'n as expressed in: the appended claim.

' Referring to" the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, th-epnumeral 3 represents a thin generator tube adapted to receive fuel oil from'a closed tank .4: and to deliver gasifiedfuel to a mix- ,ing chamber :5. In the present instance the tube is fiaredoutwardly at the lower endlto form a conical'flange 6'wh'ich is held seated in a threaded counter borer/7" in the upper end of the feed pipe 7 by anexternally threaded Hut 8 which surrounds'the tube and is" screwed into the counter bore. A valve 9 interposed between the supply tank and the tube 3 is adaptedto be regulatedby hand to controlithe flow of fuel under pressure through atubelO into the feed pipe. 35 i .Mounted on a frame structuresupported from the fuel tank- 45 is a hollow casingl ll constitutingth'e" mixingchamber 5 into which air is" drawn through an" intalzetube '12.

This casing has twodownwardly extending conduits 13" through which the airiand gas miXt'u'reiis supplied to'themantles 'or burner 14. Togprovide'a' heating zone around the-tube 3 so that the fuel .fiowin'g' there through will betgasified' after the burners are once started in operation, the conduits 13,- te'rminate; so as to support the ma ntles ClOSBftdlih central portion'jof' the tube 3:. I The upper end of the tube 3 projects looselythrough an opening-inthe. casing: 11" and is closed by a cap 15 threading into the upper end of the tube and having a pin-hole orifice 16 through which gas is adapted to flow into the mixing chamber at high velocity. A gauze or screen 17 servesto remove the solid particles from the gas before it passes through the orifice 16. V

In the preferred form of my improved generator herein illustrated, the tube 3 is made substantially straight and of circular cross section. Disposed within the tube 3 is a member made of non-porous and heat resistin 'material such as metal and of such size and s ape as to confine the flowof liquid fuel to a narrow annular space immediately adj acent the internal surface of the tube 3. In-theembodiment herein illustrated, this member is in the formof a metal rod 19 of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube?) and ofalengthsubstantially equal to that of the tube. Thus it will be observed that the rod and tube cooperate to provide a restricted passage-way 20'which is capable of containing only a small volume of liquid or'gaseous fuel.

Within thelower end of the'tube '3 is posi tioneda clip 22 formed by bending a piece of resilient wire into a U-shape. When positioned in the tube as shown in Fig. 2, the ends ofthe clip bear frictionally against the inner wallthereby providing an abutment or support which sustains the weight of the rod 19 and maintainsthe same in the desired vertical position. Preferably the closed end of the U extends into the flared end of the tube so as to be-readily accessible for ma nualremoval.

The clip 22 is, of course, made sufficiently small topermit passage of liquid fuel upwardly from the feed pipe 7into the tube.

In order to prevent caking ofthe carbon deposit which would obstruct the flow of fuel, meansis preferably provided which acts auto matically: during operationv of the generator to maintain said deposit in loosened condition. In'the present embodiment, the same means which cooperates with the tube 3 to form therestricted' fuel passage 20, thatf is the rod 19, acts to perform-this function.

This result is obtained by-mounting the rod.

19 loosely within the tube 3 as above described so-as to allow for some degree of lateral and longitudinal movementof the rod as a result of the surging action of the fuel as it enters the lower end of thetube. Vertithe generator tube.

cal movement is provided for by making the rod 19 somewhat shorter than the distance between the abutment-formed by theclip 22 and the closed upper end of the tube and allowingthe rod to rest upon'said abutment. Thus the rod is'free' to move axially within Lateral movement is provided'for byemploying a loosely fitting rod andallo-wing the same to rest'freely upon the abutment. v

n The. action of the rodin preventing clog s s lows:

The rod 19 tends normally due to gravity to assume its lower position on the abutment formed by the clip 22. During the operation of the generator the upward pressure of the of the generator passage-way is as fol fuel on the lower and surface of the rod tends toovercome the weightof the rod and actually liftsit a slightxdista-nce from its lower position. Due to the variable fuel require ments of the generator, the pressure surges of the fuel in the feed pipe, and to'the variations in the area on which the fuel pressurev is effective as the rod shifts'fromside to side of the rod l9'axially and" laterally within the tube 3 tendsto break up'the carbon particles as they form and'maintain themiin loosened condition within. the "restrictedg'enerative passage-way. This action effectively keeps the passage-way open for long periods of time thereby making frequentcleaning of the generator 'unnecessary.-

To dismantle the generator tube for replaceme'nt,inspection or cleaning, the nut 8 is unscrewed so that the generator tube may 1 be lifted from its operative position. .The-

clip 22 may then be withdraiwnand the'o'cap 15 unscrewed to releasethe rod'19 and the screen 17 so that a small brush or wire may 1 be worked backand forth through the tube 3 to remove any carbon which'has been formed therein. r 7 j Whenit is desired to startthe generator a lighted match is: held adjacent to the tube 3 and due to the fact that the film-of oil in the passageway 20 is sothin, theheat thus pro ioo vlded is sufiicient to supply ample gas tov operate the burners 14. As soon as the burners 14 have been lighted, the heatf'supplied thereby'serves to vaporizethe Oil in thegen erator tube.

In the. operation of the generaton theliquid fuel under pressure in the tank *flows ups wardly through the tube 3 in a thin film of annular cross section and upon entering the fuel to the spacerimmediately adjacent the internal surface of the tube. Thus the film of liquid fuel iseXposed on one side to the heated tube 3 and on the other sidei'to the outer surface of the rod 19 which' isgheated by conduction. The'result is that the fuelis quickly gasified and-continuesjto fiowup? wardly at ahigh velocity owing'to'the'small cross sectional area of the generator passageway. WVhen flowing at such velocity "all particles of the gas move out of the heating 'zone heating zone isquickly gasified owing to the i fact that the inner tube confines the flowof Without being entrapped therein or subjected to the high temperature for an interval sufficient to cause a material amount of decomposition or cracking. The deposit which does form is maintained in loose condition and is continually subjected to a grinding or reducing action by the movements of the rod 19 within the tube.

With the generator thus provided, very little carbon deposit is formed within the generator tube or carried forward through the port 16 so as to cause blocking of the mantles. Since scouring or rubbing action of the rod 19 is continuous during the use of the generator the formation of carbon deposits is substantially eliminated and in case any such deposits are formed they are loosened in very minute particles and further ground by continued action of the rod so that blocking of the pin-hole aperture 16 or the mantles is practically eliminated.

For this reason the'generator will operate for a good many more hours before becoming clogged than the generators now in common use. Even when the generator does become clogged, it may be cleaned conveniently and placed back in service. Thus the life of the generator and of the mantles is greatly prolonged thereby materially decreasing'the cost of operation of burners of this type. The present generator is also easier to start owing to the fact that liquid fuel to be vaporized is confined in a thin film to the space immediately within the tube 3 where the heat may be applied effectually.

I claim as my invention:

A generator for hydrocarbon burners comprising, in combination, a stationary part providing an upright fuel supply duct, a tube removably supported in vertical position on said part within a heated zone and communicating at its lower end with said duct, a non-porous inner member mounted within said tube so as to define with said tube a restricted fuel passage, and a resilient U-shaped clip having its open end entered into the lower end of the tube and frictionally engaging therewith, the lower end of the clipboaring against said stationary part of the mouth of said duct and the upper end of the clip providing an abutment for supporting said inner member in spaced relation to said duct.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affiXed my signature.

STANLEY S. PIEPGRAS. 

